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Stronghold Plus For Cats Up to 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
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Safe Over-The-Counter Product
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BASED IN AUSTRALIA
Tracked Delivery 7-14 Days
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Description
Stronghold Plus (selamectin/sarolaner) is a monthly spot-on solution from Zoetis indicated exclusively when tick control is required alongside one or more additional parasite targets. Each yellow-capped pipette delivers 15 mg selamectin paired with 2.5 mg sarolaner in 0.25 ml, calibrated to the minimum effective dose of 6 mg/kg selamectin and 1 mg/kg sarolaner for this weight band. The formulation addresses ectoparasites, gastrointestinal nematodes, and heartworm larvae within a single monthly application.
Recommended for
Cats weighing up to 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) from 8 weeks of age.
Indication/Coverage
For cats suffering from, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infections:
- Flea treatment and prevention (Ctenocephalides spp.): kills adult fleas within 24 hours of application; adulticidal, ovicidal, and larvicidal action persists for 5 weeks per dose
- Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD): indicated as part of a broader treatment strategy where flea infestation is the primary trigger
- Tick treatment (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus): acaricidal activity persists for 5 weeks; effective for 4 weeks against Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus
- Ear mite treatment (Otodectes cynotis): single-dose administration; re-evaluation at 30 days to determine whether a second dose is warranted
- Biting lice treatment (Felicola subrostratus): single-dose administration
- Adult roundworm treatment (Toxocara cati): targets adult-stage intestinal nematodes
- Adult hookworm treatment (Ancylostoma tubaeforme): targets adult-stage intestinal nematodes
- Heartworm prevention (Dirofilaria immitis, L3/L4 larvae): monthly dosing interrupts larval development before maturation to adult stage; this product does not eliminate existing adult heartworm infection
Key Benefits
Stronghold Plus for cats up to 5.5 lbs delivers the following clinically documented actions:
- Dual active compounds: selamectin (avermectin class) disrupts chloride channel conductance in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells; sarolaner (isoxazoline class) blocks GABA- and glutamate-gated chloride channels in arthropods, producing two distinct mechanisms of parasite kill in one pipette
- Flea lifecycle interruption: adulticidal kill within 24 hours, combined with ovicidal and larvicidal activity, halts reproduction and reduces environmental flea burden over the 5-week protection window
- Rapid tick knockdown: ricinus feeding triggers sarolaner exposure within 24 hours of attachment; efficacy is sustained for 5 weeks against I. ricinus and I. hexagonus
- Heartworm larval prevention: selamectin eliminates immitis L3 and L4 larvae before they can develop into adult worms; monthly dosing is required to maintain continuous preventive coverage
- Intestinal worm coverage: a single dose treats adult Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme, making Stronghold Plus applicable as a periodic gastrointestinal nematode control measure alongside its ectoparasite role
- Topical delivery for cats that resist oral dosing: spot-on application eliminates the need for oral administration, which is relevant for cats that habitually refuse tablet-form medications
- Minimum age of 8 weeks: this variant is labeled for kittens from 8 weeks old and weighing at least 1.25 kg, extending parasite protection to the earliest stages of a cat’s life where flea and heartworm exposure risk is already present
- Overdose safety margin: Zoetis safety data show no clinically significant adverse reactions in kittens treated with up to 5 times the maximum recommended dose over 8 consecutive monthly applications; this margin does not permit exceeding labeled dosing, administer one pipette per monthly dose per the cat’s current body weight
Caution
Hazards to Humans
This product is harmful if ingested and may cause eye irritation on contact. Keep pipettes in original packaging and out of reach of children; used pipettes should be discarded immediately after application. Avoid direct contact with treated cats until the application site is fully dry, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling. On the day of treatment, children should not be permitted to play with the treated cat for at least 4 hours, and treated animals should not share a sleeping space with children overnight.
Hazards to Domestic Animals
Stronghold Plus is for external use only; do not administer orally or by injection. This variant is labeled for cats aged at least 8 weeks and weighing a minimum of 1.25 kg. Do not use in cats that are debilitated, suffering from concurrent illness, or underweight for their age and size; consult a veterinarian before applying to pregnant or lactating cats, as the safety of sarolaner in these animals has not been fully established. Individual sensitivity reactions are possible in any cat; monitor after initial application. No drug interactions were identified during clinical field testing, though a veterinarian should be consulted if the cat is receiving concurrent medications.
Possible Side Effects:
Monitor your cat closely in the 24 to 48 hours following each application, particularly after the first dose.
The following reactions have been recorded in clinical use and post-marketing surveillance:
- Application-site pruritus: mild, transient itching at the spot-on site is the most commonly observed reaction; classified as common and resolves without intervention in most cats
- Alopecia at application site: mild to moderate hair loss at the point of application has been noted; classified as uncommon and generally resolves within one to two treatment cycles
- Erythema: localised skin reddening at the application site may occur; classified as uncommon
- Drooling (hypersalivation): typically results from the cat licking the application area before the product has dried; applying to the correct site at the base of the neck in front of the shoulder blades reduces this risk
- Transient gastrointestinal signs: should significant oral ingestion occur, vomiting, soft faeces, and reduced appetite may develop; these effects are expected to resolve without treatment
Contact a veterinarian if any side effects persist beyond 48 hours, intensify, or are accompanied by systemic signs such as altered consciousness or marked behavioural change.
Direction
Apply Stronghold Plus For Cats Up to 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) topically to exposed skin at the base of the cat's neck, directly in front of the shoulder blades. Do not rub or massage the solution into the coat; delivering the full contents to a single spot on bare skin is necessary for accurate dosing. Separate treated cats from other household pets until the application site is dry to prevent inadvertent transfer and secondary ingestion.How to Open
- Remove the pipette from the blister pack immediately before use; do not remove it earlier, as the foil packaging protects the contents.
- Hold the pipette upright with the cap facing away from you.
- Firmly depress the cap downward to puncture the applicator seal.
- Twist and pull the cap off to expose the pipette tip ready for application.
How to Administer
- Confirm the cat's coat is fully dry before proceeding; applying to a wet coat reduces dermal absorption and may compromise efficacy.
- Part the fur at the base of the neck in front of the shoulder blades to expose a small area of skin directly.
- Place the pipette tip against the exposed skin and squeeze firmly until the pipette is completely empty, depositing the entire 0.25 ml volume onto that single spot without spreading.
- Avoid contact between the solution and your fingers during application; if contact occurs, wash the area immediately with soap and water.
- Allow the application site to dry fully before allowing children near the cat or before the cat comes into contact with other animals.
Storage
- Store all pipettes below 30°C (86°F).
- Do not remove pipettes from the individual blister packaging until the moment of use.
- Check the expiry date printed on the blister after the label "EXP"; this date refers to the last day of the stated month.
- Keep out of reach of children at all times, and dispose of used pipettes immediately in household refuse rather than via wastewater, as selamectin is harmful to aquatic organisms.
Tips for Using
- Confirm the weight: This pipette is labeled for cats weighing 1.25–2.5 kg (2.75–5.5 lbs) from 8 weeks of age.
- Keep the fur dry: Apply only to a fully dry coat. The label specifies dry coat as a condition of application; wet fur reduces dermal absorption and compromises the delivered dose.
- Open the pipette properly: Hold the tube upright, firmly push the cap down to puncture the inner seal, then remove the cap.
- Target the sweet spot: Apply exclusively at the base of the neck, directly in front of the shoulder blades. This placement keeps the application site out of reach of the cat's grooming.
- Part the fur completely: Use your fingers to part the coat until bare skin is fully visible. Selamectin and sarolaner require direct skin contact for absorption; solution sitting on hair fibres rather than skin will not absorb at the intended rate.
- Apply directly to skin: Place the pipette tip against the exposed skin and squeeze firmly 3 to 4 times in one spot until the pipette is empty.
- Do not massage: Allow the liquid to absorb naturally. Rubbing the solution transfers active compound onto your fingers and away from the application site, reducing the effective dose.
- Prevent group grooming: Keep the treated cat away from other household pets until the application site is dry. Ingestion of selamectin or sarolaner through coat licking can cause gastrointestinal signs in other animals.
- Limit children's contact: Children should not handle the treated cat for at least 4 hours after application per Zoetis label guidance, and treated cats should not share a sleeping space with children on the night of treatment.
- Apply at bedtime: Evening application reduces active human interaction during the drying window and aligns with the Zoetis label recommendation to treat cats at night.
- Maintain a strict monthly schedule: Administer one pipette every 30 days for continuous flea, tick, and heartworm protection. Ear mites, biting lice, and intestinal worms are single-dose indications; re-evaluate ear mite cases at 30 days to determine whether a second dose is needed.
| Product Name | Stronghold Plus for Cats Up to 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) |
|---|---|
| Target Weight | Up to 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) |
| Packaging Color | Yellow |
| Pipette Volume | 0.25 ml |
| Active Ingredients | Sarolaner 2.5 mg, Selamectin 15 mg |
| Key Excipients | Butylated hydroxytoluene 0.2 mg/ml, dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether, isopropyl alcohol |
| Application Type | Topical spot-on solution applied directly to bare skin at the base of the neck |
| Appearance | Clear, colourless to yellow solution |
| Administration Route | For external use only |
| Pack Sizes Available | 3-pack or 6-pack pipettes |
| Treatment Frequency | Monthly for fleas, ticks, and heartworm prevention; single dose for ear mites, biting lice, roundworm, and hookworm |
| Effective Against | – Fleas (Ctenocephalides spp., adults, eggs, larvae) |
| Storage | Below 30°C (86°F); do not remove from blister until ready to use |
FAQs
1. My cat weighs exactly 2.5 kg – is the yellow-cap pipette still the right choice?
Yes. The Stronghold Plus Up to 5.5 lbs pipette (15 mg selamectin / 2.5 mg sarolaner) is appropriate at exactly 2.5 kg; this weight sits at the upper boundary of the labeled range, which runs from 1.25 kg to 2.5 kg. A cat exceeding 2.5 kg on the day of treatment should move to the next variant. Stronghold Plus is available in two additional weight-based variants for cats:
Always weigh your cat on the day of treatment to confirm you are using the correct pipette.
2. Is 15 mg selamectin safe for a kitten at the lower end of this weight range?
Yes, provided the kitten weighs at least 1.25 kg and is at least 8 weeks old. The 15 mg selamectin / 2.5 mg sarolaner dose delivers a minimum of 6 mg/kg selamectin and 1 mg/kg sarolaner across the entire 1.25 to 2.5 kg range, which corresponds to the labeled therapeutic threshold. Zoetis safety data found no clinically significant reactions in kittens from 8 weeks of age dosed at up to 5 times the maximum recommended level over 8 consecutive monthly treatments. Do not apply to kittens below 1.25 kg or younger than 8 weeks regardless of this margin.
3. My kitten just crossed 2.5 kg should I switch to the orange-cap pipette immediately at the next dose?
Yes, switch at the very next application. Once your cat’s verified weight exceeds 2.5 kg, the yellow-cap pipette no longer delivers selamectin or sarolaner at or above the minimum labeled dose per kilogram. Underdosing reduces efficacy against all covered parasites and does not represent a dose-saving measure; it simply produces a subtherapeutic outcome. Move to the Stronghold Plus 5.5–11 lbs (2.5–5 kg) orange-cap variant from that treatment date onward.
4. What should I do if I miss a monthly dose for my cat under 5.5 lbs?
Administer the missed dose as soon as you recognise the gap, then resume the regular monthly schedule from that new date. A lapse beyond one month does not invalidate previous doses but does create a window during which newly acquired heartworm larvae may progress beyond the L3/L4 stage targeted by selamectin. If the gap exceeds several months in a heartworm-endemic area, consult a veterinarian about whether a heartworm test is warranted before resuming preventive treatment.
5. Can I use Stronghold Plus on my cat if she is pregnant or nursing?
Selamectin is considered safe for breeding, pregnant, and lactating cats per Zoetis label data. However, the safety of sarolaner, the isoxazoline component, has not been fully evaluated in pregnant or lactating cats. Current laboratory data from studies in rats and rabbits showed no teratogenic effects, but this has not been confirmed in cats directly. Use in pregnant or nursing cats should be based on a veterinarian’s individual benefit-risk assessment rather than routine administration.
6. Does Stronghold Plus kill ticks already attached to my cat before treatment?
Sarolaner requires ticks to attach to the host and begin feeding before they are exposed to the compound systemically. Application of Stronghold Plus kills ticks that subsequently attach during the protection window, with onset within 24 hours of attachment for I. ricinus. Ticks present on the cat prior to the first dose are not eliminated instantly at application; they are killed as they feed and absorb sarolaner through the bloodstream. Because of this feeding requirement, transmission of tick-borne pathogens cannot be fully excluded during the brief period before the tick is killed.
7. My cat likes to groom herself right after I apply the spot-on – does ingestion pose a risk?
Applying the pipette at the correct site, directly at the base of the neck in front of the shoulder blades, is the primary barrier against self-grooming. If the cat still manages to ingest a portion of the dose, transient gastrointestinal signs including hypersalivation, vomiting, soft faeces, and reduced appetite may occur but are expected to resolve without treatment. Should signs be pronounced or prolonged, contact a veterinarian. Applying in the evening allows the product time to absorb before the cat’s next active grooming period.
8. Stronghold Plus treats ear mites with a single dose – does my cat need another application afterward?
A single dose is the labeled starting point for ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) treatment. The prescribing label recommends veterinary re-examination 30 days after treatment to determine whether a second dose is necessary. This follow-up is not optional in severe or persistent infestations; mite eggs present at the time of dosing may not be fully eliminated, and residual adults surviving the initial dose can re-establish the infestation within the ear canal.
9. Can Stronghold Plus replace a separate intestinal wormer for my cat?
Stronghold Plus treats adult Toxocara cati (roundworm) and adult Ancylostoma tubaeforme (hookworm), so it does address these two gastrointestinal nematodes. It does not cover tapeworms or other intestinal parasites outside these two species. If your cat’s parasite control programme requires broader gastrointestinal coverage, discuss whether Stronghold Plus addresses your specific needs with a veterinarian, and consider whether a tapeworm product should be used in parallel.
10. How long after application can my cat get wet or be bathed?
The product label does not state an explicit post-application bathing restriction for Stronghold Plus. To allow sufficient time for dermal absorption of both selamectin and sarolaner, it is prudent to avoid bathing, water immersion, or heavy rain exposure for at least 24 hours following application. Applying the product when the coat is dry and keeping the cat indoors for several hours post-treatment supports complete absorption before any potential water contact.
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